Lafayette College spokesman Roger Clow would not comment on whether the college is interested, but wrote in an email last week the college is aware the authority is considering selling the property and Lafayette will "consider all options."

The college’s Metzger Field Complex is next to the airport.

Supervisor David Billings said last week he wouldn't be surprised if Lafayette considered purchasing the Braden property if it was put up for sale.

"I am still hoping the LNAA decides to discuss their options at a Forks Township board meeting so our residents and board can understand the options," Billings said.

Township wants taxable land

Former supervisor C. David Howell, who served from 2006 to 2011, said given the development options for the property, he doubts the township would benefit from a purchase by the college.

"At a time when the township is financially stressed, Forks would prefer converting the property to taxable status," Howell said. "With almost 10 percent of Forks either tax exempt or of minimum tax value, the township would want to encourage a combination of commercial and residential development. "

Chuss said the college has not approached the township with interest in Braden Airpark.

“No one has contacted the township that I am aware of,” Chuss said. “It is not clear if the property will even be for sale. Unless the LNAA provided information to others that we have not received, which we trust they have not, then this is all premature speculation.”

LNAA waiting for a plan

The airport authority's board is willing to talk to Forks before deciding on any sale, said Charles R. Everett Jr., executive director of Lehigh
Valley International Airport, the airport authority's most significant property. But it hasn't decided to sell Braden, he said.

The authority hired New Jersey real estate company The Rockefeller Group to review its assets and consider the sale of properties to help pay off a $16 million debt before 2016.

The authority won't know what properties it wants to sell, if any, until that plan is complete, Everett said.

“That decision has not yet been made,” Everett said about selling
Braden. “I am not able to confirm or make any representations about the
specifics of the concept plan because it has not yet been completed.”

Everett also rebutted Chuss’ time frame for a decision. The
airport authority board "has not committed to a date to make a
decision about the disposition of Braden Airpark or any other
property," he said.

The authority owes the $16 million debt to developers to settle litigation concerning its condemnation of land surrounding LVIA once targeted for homes in the 1990s.The authority has to pay the debt before the end of 2015. The first $2 million of the mostly back-loaded agreement was due Saturday.

Braden Airpark is one of an estimated 15 properties totaling 700 to 800 acres that the authority owns near Lehigh Valley International Airport.

Once the concept plan is complete, Rockefeller can buy or lease airport authority land, pursue joint ventures with the authority, or decline any involvement with authority land.